Architects frequently take their design cues from nature, but while some prefer the curves of budding flowers or the sturdy power of desert mesas, others give their buildings reaching tentacles, high, squid-like towers, or the occasional smattering of what looks like suckers. Here are a handful of buildings and design concepts that remind us of the noble class Cephalopoda.

Amphibious 1000, by the Italian GZDG, Qatar

This floating luxury resort will containe offices, a marine park, underwater marine galleries, a central tower with a panoramic restaurant, and floating waterways.

Octopus Building, Beijing

Central Market, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

This Phnom Penh landmark Art Deco building was constructed in 1937. Before 1935, the area was a lake. During the Franco-Thai War, Thai aircraft bombed the market, forcing it to temporarily close, and after the end of WWII, the four arms were rebuilt.

Octopus, Chiswick, London

Czech National Library design

In 2007, the famous architect Jan Kaplický won the design competition for the Czech National Library with his design named "Eye Over Prague." The project was targeted for completion in 2011, but was cancelled in 2008. Kaplický passed away in 2009.

This building has 9 floors, 200 study areas, an underground depository that holds up to 10 million books, and a system for delivering a book from the depository to the librarians within 3 minutes.